In April 2018, the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London adopted an Initial Strategy on the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ships, which has been referred to as the “Paris Agreement for shipping”. This instrument sends an important signal to the international shipping sector and its stakeholders, including investors that the sector needs to embrace a future that will see hydrocarbon fuels largely replaced.The initial strategy represents a framework setting out the future vision for international shipping, the levels of ambition to reduce GHG emissions and guiding principles; and includes candidate short-, mid- and long-term further measures with possible timelines and their impacts on States. The strategy also identifies barriers and supportive measures including capacity building, technical cooperation and research and development (R&D).

Under the identified “levels of ambition”, total GHG emissions from international shipping should peak as soon as possible and then reduce by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008, while, at the same time, pursuing efforts towards phasing them out entirely in this century. It is noted that technological innovation and the global introduction of alternative fuels and/or energy sources for international shipping will be integral to achieve the overall ambition. An overview of the initial strategy and the next steps to implementation will be presented with a view to stimulating thoughts on how shipping can decarbonise in this century.